African Media Coverage

March 1-15, 2008

Uganda: Daily Monitor
“Museveni sets tough conditions for Bashir”
Published: March 13, 2009

President Museveni has said he supports the arrest of his wanted Sudanese counterpart, Omar al-Bashir if Khartoum does not take concrete steps to ensure peace in the restive Darfur region and other parts of the country.

"Yes, there is the [option of arresting] and handling him [Bashir] over to [the ICC]; we can work in that way," Mr Museveni said, responding to a journalist's question at a press conference at State House, Makasero yesterday on whether Kampala would cooperate to arrest the Sudanese leader if he stepped in Uganda.

The International Criminal Court (ICC), the first permanent world court for war crimes, last week issued a warrant of arrest for Gen. Bashir indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Read the article here.

Rwanda: The New Times
“Rwanda to honour Sudan’s wishes”
Published: March 10, 2009

Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir yesterday warned peacekeepers, diplomats and humanitarian workers to obey Sudanese laws or face expulsion.

Bashir made the warning over the weekend following his indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Rwanda through its Ministry of Defence, has responded that, in the event of this happening it is ready to comply.

In an interview with, The New Times, army spokesman Maj. Jill Rutaremara emphasised that Rwandan troops are serving under the context of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations, and that the issue of peacekeeper deployment is dealt with at the level of all involved parties including the Sudanese government.

Read the article here.

Angola: Angola Press
“Peace first before justice in troubled Sudan”
Published: March 8, 2009

After seven months' deliberation, the judges of the International Criminal Court finally issued an arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese president, last week. Their appeal for retributive justice, in the form of charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur, was solemnly echoed in European and US capitals, and universally by rights organizations and activist groups.

Within hours, however, the Sudan government showed that the court and its backers were powerless to defend or feed the millions of Darfurians in whose name justice is being sought. It expelled the biggest international aid agencies, seized their assets, and closed down Sudanese human rights organizations at gunpoint.

Read the article here.